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China’s rising climate risk

China is one of the countries in the world most vulnerable to climate impacts, writes HSBC strategist Wai-Shin Chan. Beijing is responding to the challenge, he writes, but it’s time that investors followed suit.

Imagine a China of the future where Guangdong province is struggling to remain the factory of the world, or Henan, Shandong and Hebei are no longer the country’s bread basket. Hard to imagine? Unfortunately, this scenario is not quite as extreme as it sounds.

China’s government believes climate change is increasing the pressure on the country’s already stressed water, food and energy resources, putting further strain on already stretched infrastructure and compounding the problem of rising food prices, water scarcity and power shortages. This is having different effects on different provinces, depending on the nature of their economies. For example:

* 14 provincial economies could be at risk from water stress because they are heavily reliant on manufacturing.

* Only six provinces have both above-average GDP growth and above-average water availability per capita. Other fast-growing provinces could be at risk if water availability falls.

* Energy intensity is the key to cutting the energy deficit; provincial targets are now in place for 2015.

To meet tough new environmental targets being introduced by the government, some provinces – including powerhouses like Guangdong – may have to change the make-up of their economies. This raises important questions about where companies set up operations or source materials from. In turn, this increases business risk for companies sourcing from, operating in and selling to China.

HSBC’s view is that investors should begin to look at climate change as a key business risk and incorporate this into their investment analysis and valuations, scrutinising portfolios for concentration of exposure to certain provinces and policies. The climate factor affects industries closely related to resource stress through raw material costs, inflation and demand degradation. Exposed businesses need to plan for resource constraints and new efficiency policies.

The human, physical and economic impact of climate change on China is clear. For example:

* Extreme weather such as floods, droughts, rainstorms and low temperatures in 2010 caused 4,800 deaths and resulted in direct economic losses of 500 billion yuan (US$75 billion). The National Climate Center believes that global warming was largely to blame for the country’s frequent extreme weather.

* Officials estimate that extreme weather is causing average grain losses of approximately 10% of China’s annual grain output.

* This summer’s power cuts and blackouts were caused in part by high thermal coal prices and a drop in hydropower production. In May water levels in the Yangtze River fell to near record lows – affecting the capacity of hydropower stations along the river. Power shortages not only affect power producers but also disrupt businesses.

This last point is particularly important. The authorities in some regions of China have occasionally increased retail prices in order to lessen the demand on the grid. Certain sectors have also had to pay higher prices for power, especially during periods of seasonal demand. This is especially disruptive as many companies are already facing rising costs through raw material price hikes (resource stress) and wage increases (inflation). Another method used during the summer to reduce demand was to force factories to suspend production for certain days during the week.

Earlier this year we assessed the vulnerability of the G20 countries in terms of their exposure, sensitivity and ability to adapt to climate change. China was found to be the third most vulnerable after India and Indonesia. The good news is that Beijing is taking action to address these problems. Its policies are based on the premise that low-carbon growth and more efficient use of its natural resources are essential for the development of the country.

The 12th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for 2011 to 2015, released earlier this year, includes a triple efficiency drive relating to water, energy and carbon intensity [also read chinadialogue’s ebook “China’s green revolution: energy, environment and the 12th Five-Year Plan”]. One of the main objectives is to “effectively conserve resources and protect the environment”. Professor Hu Angang, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University, calculated that a third of the targets in the 12th FYP were related to resources and the environment.

The promotion of seven strategic emerging industries centred around energy saving, environmental protection, next generation IT, clean energy, vehicles and materials as well as bio-technology is also a clear sign of government investment priorities. HSBC’s chief economist for Greater China, Qu Hongbin, forecasts these industries will share 5% of China’s GDP by the end of the 12th FYP and 15% by the end of the 13th FYP.

Beijing is also focusing on water conservation, water efficiency and the importance of irrigation. A climate-change law is being drafted and other policies will emerge during the next few years to deal with resource conservation and help transform China into a low-carbon economy.

The implications of climate change are wide and varied. HSBC believes investors need to look at their portfolios to assess risk levels, corporate strategy and operational efficiency. For example:

* Which companies are directly exposed to serious water availability constraints?

* Which companies are located in provinces with ambitious energy intensity reduction targets?

* Are the risks of resource stress in China understood at board level?

* What contingencies have been put into place to respond to disruption of resources?

China is responding to the challenge of climate change. We believe it is time investors followed suit.

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cdhelennh
13:5515.11.2011

问题没说清楚

这是在说中国的情况，提的都是没有行动的问题，更没有案例，都是“计划要做”的口气。顺便问一下，汇丰是如何回应加拿大油砂项目的呢？

Problem Not Clearly Articulated

When talking of China's situation, this article points out problems associated with lack of action, and when this is not the case, the tone of voice is always 'the plan intends to do ...' On a related note, how has HSBC responded to Canada's tar sands oil recovery programme?

Outlook of China in Struggle as Environment in Desperation

I am just a citizen of Beijing so I dare not to comment the overall situation of the whole country, however, I‘m experiencing the very situation of Beijing: regarding drinking water, the limescale can not be found any more while it was very common when I was young, which indicates the water is not local. How serious the deterioration is, presented by that the water has to be delivered from places of thousand kilometers away. It's always raining during Tomb Sweeping Festival, which can only be read in books but no chance to be seen in Beijing. It has been normal there is few rain in Summer and no snow in Winter. Beijing now is a real city of fog and cancers gain the infamy as killer of No, 1. Thanks to the real estate and automobile industry, who are the most important ones to fuel the growth of GDP of Beijing, we are "enjoying" under the cover of poison gas and the encompassing of the construction waste. How much natural waters are left in Beijing now, of which how much has not been contaminated...... These are only the tip of the iceberg!

The problems are bad while inaction is even worse. It is known to every Beijing citizen that the pollution is getting worse year by year. Yet, I see nothing substantively be carried out to better the situation. Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau should be changed to be the name of "Praying" Bureau to pray for more cold air for Beijing, only that can Beijing regain its clear sky. As a sequel to the author's appealing at the end of the article for the investors' "reviewing their investment portfolio" and proposing some options, I'd like to propose: (setting up) facilities and pharmaceutical factories for curing people with mental diseases, because it is said many more citizens of Northern European countries are in depression since their countries are in the Arctic Circle with more grey days than sunshine all through the year. Although many cities, including Beijing, in China are out of the Arctic Circle, they are now possessing the same feature as the Northern European countries. Based on this point, it would surely generate benefits if it was invested.